Waste district to give out free reusable bags

In an effort to give people an alternative to using plastic and paper bags that aren’t recyclable, the Monroe County Solid Waste District will be distributing reusable bags from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Bloomington’s Walmart.

The free bags will also be distributed Saturday at the district’s five recycling locations, while supplies last. There is a limit of three bags per family. The bags are made of 100% recycled plastic bottles.

Reusable bags are better than plastic or paper because they do not waste natural resources, according to Elisa Pokral of the waste district. She said that many plastic bags end up as litter and can endanger wildlife and pets as well as creating health issues for people.

The district listed 10 reasons to use recyclable bags:

Food: Microplastics have been found in the food chain.

Water and soil: Plastic bags can block storm sewers, can affect drinking water and can leach toxins into the environment.

Merchants’ costs: Production of plastic and paper bags are a cost that is often passed on to consumers and recycling by retailers is another expense.

Faster bagging: Stuffing groceries into sturdy, reusable bags at checkout is faster than bagging with plastic; reusables keep their shape.

Efficient and easy transport: Reusable bags don’t tear or rip and are easier to transport.

Less food damage: Because reusable bags are durable and easier to carry, the items inside are better protected.

Hygienic: Reusable bags can be washed and wiped clean and be used for a variety of purposes. Using your own bags exposes you to fewer germs.

Plastics are forever: Plastics don’t biodegrade but can break down through photo degradation, leading to small, toxic particles. A plastic bag can take from 15 to 1,000 years or more to break down, depending on where it is located. Landfills don’t have the necessary ingredients to let plastics decompose and paper bags don’t do much better.

Reduce litter: Reusable bags will reduce the amount of litter.

Protect other life: Numerous media and social sites have shown images and stories of wildlife dying from being tangled or ingesting plastic. An estimated 1 million birds, 100,000 marine animals and sea turtles and countless other animals die each year from ingesting or becoming entangled in plastics.